Italian school; 17th century.

Italian school; 17th century.
"Persona cómico".
Oil on canvas. Relined.
Measurements: 22 x 29 cm.
This painting of the XVII century presents a personage with an unusual expression for the time: a marked smile and an air of mockery or nonchalance. His face is dramatically illuminated, highlighting the pink color of the cheeks, the lines of the face, and a look that seems sarcastic. The presence of the mirror in the composition and the play of reflections adds a sense of theatricality.
The fact that the character is smiling is a feature of great singularity in 17th century painting, since, at that time, the open smile was not common in portraits or genre scenes. This distinguishes it from more solemn works, but connects it to a burlesque or humorous genre that some artists of the time explored.
At the beginning of the 17th century, at the same time that Caravaggio was breaking away from Mannerist and even Renaissance conventions, a new way of understanding painting, usually called "eclecticism", was emerging in Bologna under the guidance of Carracci. It sought to integrate the best of each master, especially Michelangelo, Raphael, Titian, Veronese and Correggio. However, Annibale Carracci's personality led him to evolve towards a very personal classicism, which did not disdain certain Caravaggiesque achievements.